#i just find soo fascinating how their past haunts them

[rocicrew]

Alliance, Sep, guerilla, partisan front. One of them. Isn't it all the same? It is to me. I think it's all useless. It's better to live. / I know guys like him, guys with causes. Causes that get people killed.

[moonscriptsx]

Sketch (M)

SUMMARY: After sixteen years of dreaming about the same unknown beautiful girl, Jungkook finally gets to put a name to the face — and she's so much more than what he's dreamt of.

GENRE/WARNINGS: Soulmate!AU, Artist!Jungkook; filled with tooth rotting fluff and smut. Seriously, Jungkook is a sweetheart.

WORDS: 9.6k.

A/N: This was actually the first fic I wrote that was pretty lengthy. Also -- gguk is my weakness. Enjoy! xx.

For as long as he could remember, Jungkook knew who his soulmate was. From the time he was ten until now he knew that the person he was supposed to be with was out there, patiently waiting for him to come to them with open arms and a heart filled with nothing but love. Ever since he was little he would always dream of the same girl; long flowing hair, big doe eyes that seemed to glimmer with happiness, and the brightest smile he's ever seen. Every other night he would dream of her, the girl aging along with him as he grew older, and it wasn't until he was fifteen did he finally start to record the dreams. With his pencil and art pad, he'd sketch out the beautiful face, hoping to find her one day. But as the years went on, he had no such luck.

Now being almost twenty-six Jungkook is finding it harder and harder to stay positive about the situation, the man convinced that the woman he sketches is just a figment of his imagination, that she's just a fantasy he can only wish for – but little does he know that the universe works in mysterious ways. When the stars align and those in charge of fate decide that soulmates are ready to meet, it finally happens.  

And for Jungkook it's sooner than he thinks.  

The warm summer breeze whips past the brunette as he strolls down the sidewalk, a steaming cup of coffee in his hands as he peers around at his surroundings. People littered the sidewalks, different passerby's and pedestrians hurriedly walking to wherever it was they needed to be. Conversations flitter past the man as he crosses the street, a bright smile forming on his face when he spots his friend sitting comfortably underneath the tree in the park, a shout leaving his lips as he finally reaches him.  

"Taehyung!"  

Jungkook beams at the man, making his friend smile back in return. Scooting over so that Jungkook has a place to sit, Taehyung places his guitar aside as Jungkook plops down next to him.  

"Hey man," he greets, nodding. "How've you been?"  

Jungkook shrugs, placing his coffee down on the grass as he slides his backpack off his shoulders.  

"I've been alright," he says casually. "There's been better days."  

Taehyung hums in acknowledgement, the man turning back towards his guitar. Silence falls over the pair then and Jungkook takes the time to open his bag, finger instantly digging for the pad he always carried around with him before placing it in his lap. Grabbing a pencil from one of the pockets he's opening up to the last page he had stopped working on, the brunette instantly shading into the paper. From beside him Taehyung peers curiously over his friend's shoulder, a sad smile forming on his lips when he catches sight of the drawing.  

"Still drawing her?" He asks, and Jungkook nods, lips pursing as he continues shading in details of her hair.  

"Yeah," he says, distantly. "She gets more and more beautiful every time."  

An unknown look crosses Taehyung's face then, the man glancing at his friend with something that could've been labeled as concern as he sighs. He lets his fingers strum over the strings of his guitar as he watches Jungkook draw details on the unknown girl's eyes, the musician cocking his head to the side as he studies the picture.  

"Can I ask you a question?"  

"You just did," Jungkook says, throwing a smirk over his shoulder as Taehyung frowns.  

"I'm being serious," he says quietly, and Jungkook pauses his shading, turning his attention towards his friend.  

"Go ahead."  

Pursing his lips, Taehyung leans back against the tree as he peers down at the drawing, genuine curiosity filling his body now.  

"How can you be so sure that this girl is the one for you?"  

The question makes Jungkook blink, his lips parting as he inhales sharply. He knew how his friends felt about his fascination with the girl in his dreams, he knew that they had weekly discussions of the brunette's fascination with this so-called 'dream girl' -- but he didn't care. In Jungkook's mind he was destined to be with this woman. It didn't matter how long it took for him to find her, he was convinced that she was the one for him.  

"Honestly?" He begins, crossing his arms over his chest as he leans back against the bark of the tree. "I've been dreaming of this girl since I was ten years old, Tae, that has to mean something."  

Taehyung hums in acknowledgement, the musician's head nodding as he looks straight ahead.  

"Yeah," he muses. "But it could also be something you just made yourself believe, you know. Sometimes the mind plays tricks on you."  

Jungkook frowns then, the man turning his head to look over at his friend. Taehyung is motionless, the raven-haired man idly staring off in the distance, and Jungkook lets out a heavy sigh. Turning back to his pad, he stares down at the face on the paper. His eyes scan over every feature, the woman's face seemingly haunting him as her shining eyes and bright smile look back at him – the simple sight of her face on the paper making his heart beat wildly in his chest.  

He knew Taehyung was right in a way, it was a completely crazy thought – but he was too afraid to risk anything. He was too deep into his feelings now that he knew there was no going back. He was finally going to put a name to the face if it was the last thing he did.  

With his backpack slung over his shoulders and a snapback adorning his head, Jungkook walks down the crowded city street as he makes his way towards his work. The early morning rush always seemed to stress others out, the majority of passerby's scrambling to get to their offices or destinations in time, but Jungkook found a certain calmness in the mayhem. While others took long strides and sharp turns, the artist took his time; he walked at a leisurely pace, always making sure to take in his surroundings as he walked to the his studio. He appreciated the scene around him, relishing in the bright vibrant colors of the summer flowers. Sometimes he would even sit outside of the studio and just paint and draw the different scenarios; whether it was a couple walking down the street or the way the flowers swirled in the midst of the breeze from the summer wind.  

Letting a small smile grace his lips, Jungkook pulls the door to the studio open, the air conditioned room hitting him right away as he steps inside. On the first floor is the training area, various easels scattered in a circle around the center, some of the seats occupied while others were still vacant, the remaining students having not arrived yet. Nodding politely towards those who were seated, Jungkook sends them a smile before walking towards the receptionist desk.  

"Morning, Soo," he greets the girl behind the desk. He watches as she looks up at him, a bright smile on her lips as she nods towards him.  

"Morning, Kookie," she says cheerily, making the artist chuckle.  

"Do you have to call me that?" He asks playfully, and Soohyuk nods with a grin.  

"Of course," she retorts. "It suits you. Also, I just like seeing you annoyed."  

Shaking his head at the girl, Jungkook chuckles once more before he's signing in. Sending one more smile towards his friend, he turns to walk towards the staircase leading to the second level when he collides with the person behind him. Instantly a box drops and different pencils, markers, and paint brushes were scattered along the floor, the artists eyes widening as he drops to the floor to pick up the stranger's items.  

"I'm so sorry!" He apologizes, which makes the stranger giggle nervously, their body bending down to swat his hands away.  

"It's okay!" A bell-like voice responds, and Jungkook lifts his head to see who he had knocked into to. The moment their eyes meet, the world feels like it stopped.

Jungkook feels like the wind has been knocked out of him, his ears ringing painfully as his gaze falls on your face. The long flowing hair, the big doe eyes, that beautiful smile that seemed to light up the whole room... It was you – the girl he had dreamt of since the first time he could remember. Your eyes widen as you glance at him, your head tilting the side; a feeling of remembrance fills you, your brain insisting that you know this man – that you had met him before. Silence falls over the pair of you as the two of you stare at one another, both completely in shock by the sight of each other. Your gaze is glued to him, your body completely entranced by the man in front of you, and you don't snap out of your daze until Jungkook finally clears his throat.  

Sending you a shy smile, the man gathers your things off of the floor and places them back in the box before standing upright once again.  

"Sorry about that," he apologizes again. Holding his hand out towards you, he gestures for you to take it so he can help you up off the ground. "I'm Jungkook."  

You take his hand without hesitation, your eyes widening once more when you feel the sting of a magnetic shock travel from his hand to yours, butterflies erupting in your stomach as he pulls you to your feet. You know he feels it too as he stares down at your joined hands, a quiet giggle falling from your mouth as you shyly look away from him.  

"I'm (Y/N)," you murmur, and Jungkook beams.  

"(Y/N)…"  

The way your name falls from his lips makes you blush something fierce, your hand slipping out of his hand as you nervously tuck a piece of hair behind your ear. Jungkook feels like he's on cloud nine, the artist not being able to keep the smile off of his face as he nods in the direction of the circle of easels.  

"So," he clears his throat. "Are you taking the class here or...?"  

Immediately turning your head so you can look at him, you nod with a grin.  

"My first class is today," you confirm. "I was just about to sign in when you, uh – yeah."  

Jungkook smiles sheepishly, his hand rubbing the back of his neck as he looks away bashfully.  

"I really am sorry," he says earnestly, and you shake your head.  

"It's not a big deal," you reassure him. "Don't worry about it."  

Another wave of silence falls over you two then, both of you shuffling in half embarrassment half nervousness before you finally decide to break it.  

"So, are you learning here too?"  

Jungkook smirks, shoulders shrugging as he grasps the box in his hands.  

"Not exactly," he chuckles. "This is actually my studio."  

Your eyes widen at his words, shock running through your body as it registers in your head that 'Oh shit, this is my future boss...' and you find yourself silently freaking out, your body bending at the waist as you bow towards him.  

"I'm so sorry," you apologize quickly. "I had no idea...!"  

Jungkook can't help but laugh, the man shaking his head as he holds up a hand.

"You don't have to bow, (Y/N)," he says. "I'm just a normal person who owns a studio. Nothing too fancy."  

You flush at his words, a hand nervously raking through your locks as you turn to look at the rest of the class. The seats that had been empty before were now completely filled, one empty chair left as it waited for you to occupy it. Turning back towards Jungkook you let a sad smile grace your lips as you nod in the direction of the classroom.  

"I guess I should go sit down," you say, and Jungkook can't help but let his face slightly falter at that – but he understands.  

Reluctantly the artist nods, his arms outstretching so he can hand over your box of materials, and just as you turn to walk away from him he's calling out to you, his voice making you bite back a smile.  

"I'll see you around, yeah?"  

Looking at him over your shoulder, you nod your head with a grin.  

"Absolutely."  

"I found her!"  

Taehyung jumps from his spot at the computer desk, the musician's eyes widening as Jungkook bounds through the front door of their shared apartment. The bright smile on the younger's face makes Taehyung blink before he's jumping to his feet, his mouth dropping open as the words finally register in his head.  

"What?" He asks, shellshocked. Jungkook can't help but grin as he grabs a hold of his friend's shoulders and shakes him lightly.  

"I found her, Tae! The girl from my dreams!"  

Taehyung's eyes narrow then, a scrutinizing gaze piercing into his friend as he purses his lips.  

"How can you be so sure?" He asks skeptically, and Jungkook scoffs.  

"I've been dreaming about the same woman for the past twenty-one years, Taehyung. I'm pretty sure I'd know her face."  

Taehyung is still weary, the musician heavily sighing as he prys Jungkook's grip off of him. Running a hand through his hair he takes a seat back on the computer chair, he looks up at his friend with concern.

"And you're sure," he emphasizes the word, giving Jungkook a pointed look. "This is her?"

Jungkook nods wildly, big doe eyes wider than usual as he grins at his friend.

"Positive!" He affirms. "Her name is (Y/N) and she just started taking classes at my studio."

Taehyung hums then, a nod of approval following as he crosses his arms over his chest.

"So she's an artist too, then?" Jungkook nods again.

"Yup!"

Chuckling at his friend, Taehyung leans back against the chair as he smirks.

"Did you get her number?"

Jungkook's face falters at that, his eyebrows creasing as his lips turn into a frown. How could he have forgotten to ask for your number...

"Shit," he curses, causing Taehyung to let out a bark-like laughter.

"You're an idiot," his friend says playfully and Jungkook pouts.

"I was just too excited about the fact that I had found her that I completely forgot about getting her number."

Taehyung shakes his head, the man standing up from the chair so he can pat his friend on the shoulder, an encouraging look on his face as he smiles at him.

“At least you know where she’ll be, though,” he says, making the artist’s face brighten almost immediately.

“I’ll get it from her tomorrow,” Jungkook says cheerfully, nodding at his own words. “I’ll make sure of it.”

The next day Jungkook wastes no time in making his way to work, the artist clearly on a mission as he hurriedly whips past the crowded street, nearly knocking into several people on his way there. He all but hauls the door to the studio open, his gaze flittering around the room before it falls on the beauty he’s looking for -- you. Your head snaps up when you hear the door open, your gaze finding his, and you can’t help but let a massive smile dance across your lips as you watch Jungkook walk over to you.

“Morning, (Y/N),” he greets, and you smile widely at him.

“Morning, Jungkook.”

Seeing your smile in person makes Jungkook’s heart beat wildly in his chest, the simple action from you seemingly being able to rival the brightness of the sun. He can hear his heart beating loudly, the sound ringing in his ears as he takes a seat next to you.

“How was class yesterday?” He asks, and you shrug, crossing one leg over the other as you turn your body towards him.

“It wasn’t easy,” you admit. “I thought that I had known everything there was to art but -- there’s definitely a lot more to it than I presumed.”

Jungkook chuckles at that, his head nodding in affirmation at your words.

“That there is,” he agrees. “It gets easier, though. The first section is always the hardest because there’s just a bunch of information you have to retain and it’s mostly just a pain in the ass.”

His words make you giggle, your gaze dropping to the ground as you tuck a piece of hair behind your ear. The simple action makes Jungkook smile, the artist fighting back to tuck it for you, as he stands up from the chair and adjusts the bag on his shoulder.

“But hey,” he adds, making you look back up to him. “If you ever get stuck on anything and need someone to guide you, I’m always here to help.”

Smiling gratefully at him, you nod before standing up as well.

“I appreciate that,” you say quietly, and Jungkook shrugs.

“It’s the least I can do,” he rubs the back of his neck out of nervousness, his stomach fluttering. “I could give you my number? So whenever you need help just give me a buzz and I’ll be glad to give you some sort of assistance.”

You can’t help but let another wide smile grace your lips, your head nodding at his words as you reach down to grab your phone from the pocket of your jeans.

“I’d like that,” you say quietly, making Jungkook beam.

A few more words were exchanged before he takes your phone and punches in his number, handing the device back to you with a smile. As the two of you bid one another goodbye, Jungkook can feel his heart pounding in his chest, an overflowing feeling of happiness filling him up from head to toe as he climbs the stairs to his office on the second level.

The next few weeks fly by in a crazy whirlwind.

Jungkook finds himself swarmed with different projects as he locks himself up in his office, dozens of empty coffee cups and crumpled of paper scattered around him as he lets out a groan of frustration. He had been requested to come up with a piece that they could display at the gala happening in two months time but nothing was good enough for him. No matter how many times he finished a piece he was never satisfied, the artist groaning in distaste before he’s hurling the crumpled up ball against the wall and starting over. That had been the process for the past two weeks -- and Jungkook was sick of it.

His irritated gaze falls on the easel in front of him, eyes swooping over the multicolored panel as he observes his piece; the clear-blue ocean looked dull to him, lacking any sort of dimension he had done before. The seagulls flying high in the sky were too child-like, and the clouds looked too puffy for his liking. He was annoyed, he was stressed, and he sure as hell wasn’t satisfied with anything he was creating. Gripping the paper on the easel, Jungkook rips it off and crumples it up, another useless piece being thrown towards the trashcan.

His arms fold at his desk as his head rests on them, a heavy sigh falling from his lips as he squeezes his eyes shut, an action that he always did when he got stressed or angry. Thousands of thoughts were flying through his mind, the artist getting lost in them, and he doesn’t even realize that there’s another person in the room until there’s a knock at his door, a murmur falling from his lips as he mumbles into his arms.

“What?” He asks, and he hears a snicker from the doorway.

“There’s someone who’d like to see you, Kookie,” the sweet voice of Soohyuk fills his ears and the artist groans, the nickname making his head spin.

“Tell them to come back later.”

Soohyuk clicks her tongue, the receptionist walking towards him and putting her hands on his desk, making Jungkook lift his head.

“Soo, I’m serio--”

He stops short when he catches sight of a silhouette standing behind the woman, a sheepish smile forming on your lips as you timidly wave at him. Jungkook stares at you, eyes blinking rapidly, before he’s nodding. Sliding his arms off of his desk he stands up out of the chair and walks from behind his desk, his gaze completely locked on you. He doesn’t seem to notice the knowing look on his receptionist’s face as she winks at you before turning to the staircase.

“I suppose I should leave the two of you alone, then,” she says, knowingly. You flush at her tone, your gaze falling towards the ground as your feet scuff against the floor.

Jungkook doesn’t say anything, his gaze solely on you as he watches you look around his office space. Different paintings and artwork littered the walls; each piece ranging from landscapes to portraits, and you’re completely in awe by them. The bright colors, the outlines, the dimension he puts into his work -- you’re almost taken aback by how incredible all of his pieces were. Slowly you feel your feet start to walk towards the painting of the ocean, your fingertips gliding along the brassy outlining of the frame as your gaze settles on the artwork. A small smile forms on your lips as you admire it, a breathy ‘incredible’ falling from them. You didn’t even notice Jungkook had walked behind you until he spoke, his voice startling you slightly.

“You like it?” He asks quietly, and you turn to look at him with a bright smile.

“I love it,” you affirm. Your words make Jungkook blush, the artist bashfully looking at you with a grin.

“I painted that while I was staying with my parents in Busan,” he informs. “They have a house right along the coastline and my room is facing the water, so I took advantage of the view and decided to capture it.”

He smiles at the memory, his eyes closing as he remembers the sweet smell of the salty air and the cawing of the seagulls. You watch as he smiles, your head tilting to the side as your gaze runs over the features of his face. The majority of him was sharp; from his high forehead to the arch of his eyebrows, from his eyebrows to the tip of his nose and leading down to his jaw. His eyes held warmth, his lips -- despite being quite thin -- looked incredibly soft. You couldn’t help but be mesmerized every time you looked at him, the man appearing as if he was sculpted by the gods -- the man looking like the human version of Adonis.

Blinking up at him, you watch as his gaze falls onto the other paintings, your own gaze staying locked on his face. You watch as his tongue rolls across his lips, a small smile forming on them as you let out a dreamy sigh.

“You’re beautiful.”

The words slip out of your mouth without even thinking, a hand automatically clasping over it as your eyes widen. Jungkook’s head snaps over to look at you, a playful smirk replacing his smile as he cocks an eyebrow. Panic automatically fills your body as you drop your hand to wave them wildly in front of him.

“I mean your art,” you correct yourself. “Your art is beautiful.”

Embarrassment is flowing through you and you can feel your cheeks heat up as you walk away from him, hurriedly standing on the opposite side of the room as you pretend to look at his other work. Jungkook’s smirk never falters from his face as he stares at you, a soft chuckle escaping him as he crosses his arms over his chest.

“Did you come up here because you needed something?” He asks, making you turn back to look at him. “Or did you come up here to tell me I’m beautiful?”

His words makes you groan in embarrassment, the artist laughing out loud when you cover your face with your hands. You can hear his footsteps nearing you, two fingers immediately placing under your chin as he lifts your head to look at him. A soft smile is on his lips now, big doe eyes staring back at you with warm brown hues.

“It’s okay,” he reassures you. “I think you’re beautiful too, (Y/N).”

Another wave of heat floods to your face, your head turning to the side as you bury your face in your hair. Jungkook lets out another chuckle, his head shaking at how cute you are, and he’s grinning from ear to ear as you finally lift your head to look at him.

“I need your help,” you murmur and Jungkook’s eyebrows furrow.

“With?”

“I’m really bad with remembering dates and there’s a test at the end of the month based on different artwork from various time periods and I was wondering if--”

“Consider it done,” Jungkook cuts you off making you look at him in shock, your lips parting as you stare at him.

“Wait -- seriously?”

Jungkook smirks, his shoulder shrugging in a nonchalant way.

“Yeah,” he says casually. “Didn’t I tell you to come find me if you ever needed help?”

You smile at that, your teeth sinking softly into your bottom lip as you tear your gaze from his. Shyly you tuck a piece of hair behind your ear and nod.

“You did,” you affirm. “I just didn’t expect you to say yes, to be honest. I know you’re busy and I didn’t want to bother you --”

“You could never bother me,” he butts in, and you can’t help but flush at his words. Cautiously Jungkook reaches forward to grab your hand, the sparks that you had felt from the first time you had met him were back and stronger than ever, an invisible bolt igniting both yours and his hands as you look back up into his eyes.

Smiling at him, you nod again, causing Jungkook to grin and squeeze your hand before dropping it.

“Alright,” he claps. “Let’s get to studying.” 

For the next three weeks Jungkook made sure to take time out his schedule to help you with your test. In between yours and his schedules the two of you would walk to the sandwich shop down the street where you’d eat your lunch together and he’d make sure to quiz you on the different paintings and sculptures that were sure to be on your test. You were incredibly thankful for all of the help was giving to you, the man teaching you more and more things every day. He was patient with your learning, the artist always making sure to give you enough time so you could collect your thoughts and decide which answer is the right one before you said it. You will admit, however, sometimes it’s a bit distracting when the man watches you write down your answer, his gaze making you shift nervously. He was intense, passion leaking from almost anything he does, and sometimes you’re completely enthralled by him that you lose your train of thought and just freeze up -- which is exactly what happened just now.

The two of you were sat comfortably in one of the tables in the quaint shop, both of you eating and working diligently as Jungkook helps you study. Your test is at the end of the week and you had to admit that you were completely stressing about it. When you’re at home and you test yourself on the material, you end up flaking out and telling yourself that you don’t it, that you’re going to fail. But when you’re with Jungkook, the answers come easily to you -- something which you could never understand considering you were always a near flustered mess around him.

“Alright,” he claps, snapping you out of your daze. Placing the last picture of the art piece onto the table, he nods towards it as he grabs his sandwich. “Tell me what period it’s from and who the artist was first.”

You glance down at the statue, the familiarity of seeing it a dozen times before automatically flittering in your brain as you chew thoroughly on your food.

“It’s from the Renaissance period -- well, Italian Renaissance if you want to be exact,” you grin. “And Michelangelo made it.”

Jungkook nods, taking another bite of his food before he speaks again.

“Where is it located?”

You think for a moment, taking a swig from your drink, before finally answering him.

“Florence?”

Jungkook grins, nodding again as he reaches forward to squeeze your hand in encouragement.

“Good!” He assures your uncertainty, giving you a gentle look. “Don’t doubt yourself, (Y/N). You’ve got this in the bag.”

You smile at his words, looking down at your food shyly as you chew quietly. Jungkook leans his elbows on the table, his body moving forward as his face nears yours, a bright smile dancing on his lips as he looks at you.

“Now,” he says. “When was it made?”

You make the mistake of lifting your head up, your gaze meeting his, and you can feel your breath catch in your throat. His face is so close to yours, the warmth from his breath fanning against your skin as he looks at you expectantly. You can feel a nervous lump form along the ridges of your esophagus and you swallow thickly as you hold his gaze. A piece of hair falls in your face and you raise your hand to move it when Jungkook reaches forward, the back of his hand brushing against your cheek as he tucks the loose piece of hair behind your ear. The action makes you flush, heat pooling over your face as you feel your body heat up. Jungkook is smiling softly at you, his thumb gently stroking against your cheek before he draws back.

Pressing back against the chair, he smirks at you as he crosses his arms over his chest.

“(Y/N),” he calls out. “When was it made?”

You’re still half dazed from his previous actions, your eyes blinking rapidly as you try to snap yourself out of it. Your teeth sink softly into the flesh of your bottom lip as you drop your gaze to look at the table.

“Between 1501 and 1504.”

Jungkook grins, clapping his hands in excitement as he nods.

“Perfect!” He cheers. “You’re going to pass with flying colors, beautiful.”

The nickname makes you flush once more, another rise of heat coating your cheeks as you giggle nervously. Jungkook’s gaze is locked on you; your eyes are still avoiding him, your head tilted downward as you look at the marble top of the table. There’s a faint outline of a smile on your face paired with the slight flash of pearly white’s. Your cheeks are tinted a light pinkish almost red color and Jungkook’s eyes weep over every feature that’s visible to him.

It’s only then that it finally hits him that what he’s been meaning to create for the gala in just a month away was right in front of him -- the one thing that made the creative wheels turn in his head for the past twenty-one years...

You.

“I PASSED! I PASSED!”

Your joyful shouts echo around the perimeter of Jungkook’s office as you bound up the stairs, your face literally beaming as Jungkook’s head shoots up to look at you from his desk.

“You passed?!” He asks excitedly, to which you nod.

“100%,” you say proudly. Jungkook beams at you, the artist getting up and out of his chair.

In an instant you feel warm arms wrap around your waist, your feet being lifted up off of the ground as Jungkook happily spins you around. Your laughter mixes with his as you bury your face in his neck, crying out with happiness at your success. Once your feet were back on the ground you drew back from Jungkook to smile up at him, your hands reaching out to grab his.

“Thank you,” you say earnestly, causing Jungkook to grin. “For everything.”

“It was my pleasure,” and he meant it.

Your gaze was locked on his, both of you staring at one another with identical grins as pride beamed from the two of you. Jungkook’s grip on your hands tighten as he pulls you closer, his eyes slipping from yours to look down at your lips, instinctively making him lick his own. Butterflies fluttered wildly in your stomach at the action, your gaze dropping from his face as you look away bashfully. Instead you focus on his desk, your stare falling on his sketchbook. You see the outline of a familiar woman; the doe eyes, wide smile, the long flowing hair... It doesn’t take long for you to realize who it was he was drawing, your mouth falling open as you turn back to look at him.

“Is -- is that me?”

Your finger is pointing towards the portrait and Jungkook’s eyes widen, the artist immediately dropping your hands as he scurries to grab the picture out of your sight. He’s too slow, however, as you beat him to it. The book is laid in your hands, your eyes glued to the woman smiling back at you. You’re speechless -- completely and utterly speechless -- and Jungkook panics, the brunette fisting his hair out of worry as he starts mumbling incoherently.

“Oh shit, oh fuck,” he mumbles, and you look over at him in worry.

“Jungkook?” You call towards him, but he ignores you.

“Fuck, I’m so sorry, (Y/N), I should have asked for your permission first.”

“Jungkook --”

“God, you must think I’m a stalker or something...”

“Jungkook --”

“Please don’t hate me, I’m sorr --”

His apology is cut off when you set the sketchbook down and grab the back of his neck, successfully bringing his lips to yours. Instantly the artist freezes, his body going rigid as your lips press roughly against his. It takes him a few moments before he finally registers what’s going on before he lets his eyes droop closed, his lips finally starting to respond when you pull back. You’re breathless, your gaze hooded, and you’re letting a small smile grace your lips as you cup his face.

“I’m not mad,” you breathe out. Jungkook’s eyes are still closed, his arms wrapping cautiously around your waist as he leans his forehead against yours.

“You’re not?” He asks, and you giggle.

“Are you kidding?” Gripping his face gently in your hands you make him open his eyes so he can look at you. “It’s fucking beautiful, Jungkook.”

Blinking at your words, his arms tighten around your waist as he stares down at you, the shadow of a smile playing on his lips as he tries to bite it back.

“You think?” You scoff then, slapping his shoulder playfully.

“Yes!” You yell. “That portrait is single-handedly the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, okay? I mean, I don’t personally see myself that way but --”

This time your words are cut off when Jungkook surges forward and crashes his lips onto yours, kissing you fervently. A quiet whimper falls from your lips as you feel yourself being lifted up onto the desk, Jungkook’s mouth moving against yours in a heated kiss. Sliding your hands up the back of his neck and into his hair, you let your fingers twist in his chocolate locks, tugging them softly and making Jungkook groan into your mouth.

“You’re beautiful,” he murmurs against your lips, his grip on you tightening. “You’re beautiful and perfect and --”

“Jungkook,” you draw back, smirking. He frowns at the loss of your lips, eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

“What?”

“Shut up and kiss me.”

He doesn’t need to be told twice.

Crowds of people littered around the center of the room as they all circled the piece of art, glasses of champagne in almost every hand as they offhandedly commented about the work in front of them. Others walked off to another section of the gallery, their interests taking them towards a piece that’s more personally inspiring. From your seat on the couch you watch as Jungkook stands at the head of the hall, broad shoulders wrapped in a black suit jacket as he talks to the seekers about his work. You watch as he beams, his gaze falling onto you at the other end of the hall. Lifting his arm up in the air you watch as he subtly calls you over, a grin forming on your face as you push up off of the couch.

You can feel your hair swinging behind you as you walk, your dress flowing in synchronization with it, and you watch as Jungkook’s gaze locks on your form when you manage to squeeze through the crowd.

“This piece is very special to me,” he begins. “It’s based on a very special woman in my life and I wanted everyone to know that. Although the portrait itself is not quite as beautiful as she is --” his eyes drift to you once more, making a soft blush appear on your cheeks. “But it comes fairly close.”

Murmurs amongst the crowd rise up then, several pairs of eyes floating to look at you as Jungkook pulls you into him, the audience’s faces turning into smiles as they watch the artist lean over to kiss your cheek. Bashfully you hid your face in his coat jacket, Jungkook chuckling at your action, before he’s replying his ‘thank you’s’ to the crowd. One by one the group grows smaller and Jungkook tugs you closer into his side as the last woman watches the pair of you with a smile, her hands reaching out to grab yours.

“You’re a lucky young woman,” she comments, making you blush.

“I am,” you agree. A bright smile frames her face then, her eyes drifting towards Jungkook before looking back at you.

“Keep him, honey. He’s worth it.”

You can’t help but grin at her words, your gaze locked on her retreating form as you sigh in content. From above you you can hear Jungkook chuckle, your head turning to look up at him as he grins down at you.

“I’m the lucky one,” he corrects, leaning down to press his lips softly against your cheek. “You look beautiful tonight, baby.”

You flush, burying your face once more in his jacket, your grip on him tightening as you groan.

“Stop making me blush,” you murmur, and Jungkook shakes his head, fingertips dancing softly across your cheek.

“Never.”

By the end of the night your feet are aching and your body is itching to get out of your dress. Jungkook had invited you to stay the night with him at his place, a suggestion that made your heart flutter and your stomach twinge with anticipation, and you definitely weren’t going to pass on that idea. With your hand clasped tightly in his, he pulls you into his apartment, the cool air conditioning hitting you the moment you walk in. The place smells faintly of cinnamon and spice, a comforting sense of home in the quaint apartment.

Dropping your hand, Jungkook gestures towards the hallway, a bright smile on his face.

“Can I show you something?” He asks, and you nod.

Cautiously you follow him down the hallway before he opens a door -- his bedroom door. Once you’re inside he shuts the door behind you and gestures for you to take a seat on the bed, which you graciously do. Immediately you’re slipping off your heels, your legs coming up and folding underneath you as you watch him rummage around. A quiet ‘aha!’ echoes around the room before you see Jungkook pulling out a black leather sketchbook, his tall stature turning around. You can sense his anxiousness from here, a nervous glint in his eyes as he slowly walks to where you’re sitting. Dropping to his knees on the floor, Jungkook sits in front of you as he clutches the book to his chest, nerves completely wracking his body as he licks his lips.

“About twenty-one years ago, I had a dream about a little girl who was my age at the time,” he begins, letting a small smile grace his lips. “She was beautiful; with her long flowing hair, big doe eyes, and a smile that seemed to rival the sun. I would dream of her every night, the same girl each time, and I never understood why -- until now.”

Nodding his head at the book, he gestures for you to open it -- which you did instantly. The sight before you made you gasp.

Pages and pages of the girl are sketched to perfection, your eyes widening when you recognize that smile, the eyes, the hair... All of the pages were coated with sketches of you -- from the time you were little up until now. You were speechless, words not even being thought of as your finger traces along the pencil marks on the page. Jungkook sits at your feet, the artist watching you with curious eyes as he awaits your reaction. You can feel tears seep into the corners of your eyes as the wheels in your head turn, your watery gaze immediately floating to his face as you let the widest smile cross your features.

“You’re him,” you whisper, causing Jungkook’s eyebrows to crease in confusion.

“What?”

Placing his sketchbook to the side, you stand up from the bed and walk to the other side of the room before grabbing your overnight bag. Unzipping it you reach in and fish out what you’re looking for -- your drawing pad. Flipping to the first page, you instantly hold it up to show Jungkook, the artists eyes widening.

“A long time ago, I dreamed of a boy. He was my age and he was beautiful,” you give him a watery smile. “I dreamt of him a lot, too. This is the only time I’ve ever sketched him because after that, the dreams stopped. I thought I was never going to find out who it was but -- I did. It’s you.”

Jungkook can feel tears of realization hit him as he lets the biggest grin spread on his lips, his gaze tearing into yours.

The sketchbook falls from your hands as you walk over to Jungkook, cupping his face as you pull him up to you. Emotions are overflowing both yours and his bodies as your lips find his, His arms wound tightly around you as he pulls you into him, his lips dancing softly with yours as the two of you kiss. A mixture of Jungkook’s minty breath and salt from the tears hits you and you’re sighing in content as you feel him pull away. His gaze is just as watery as yours as he cups your face, his nose gently nuzzling against yours.

“I Found you,” he murmurs, making you beam in happiness.

“You found me.”

Your words are whispered against his lips as he kisses you again, this time both of you are falling onto the soft cushioning of his bed in a frenzied heap. With his arms on either side of your body, Jungkook holds his weight up so he doesn’t crush you as he kisses you. Your fingers are entwined in his chocolate locks, softly tugging at them as you moan quietly against his lips. His lips break from yours then, the slightly flushed flesh kissing a trail down your jawline and to the base of your neck as he softly nibbles on your skin. The action sets your body aflame, electric shocks mixed with embers of fire heating your body up as you close your eyes, relishing in the feeling of Jungkook.

Sliding your hands from his hair, you let them slide underneath his suit jacket, pushing them off of his shoulders and letting it fall to the floor in a heap. Jungkook’s teeth gently graze along the skin of your clavicle, the artist humming softly against your skin and drawing goosebumps to emit on the flesh. His hand snakes around you as he pulls you up towards him, his fingers grasping the zipper of your dress before he pulls back to look at you.

“May I?” He asks, and you let out a shaky breath.

“Please...”

Immediately he’s dragging the zipper down, your lingerie clad body being revealed to him, and he’s sucking in a harsh breath as the dress falls to the ground. His gaze rakes over your body, his mind mentally memorizing every dip and curve, before he’s smiling down at you.

“God, you’re so beautiful.”

His words flitter through the air as his mouth dips back down to travel his lips along your newly revealed form. Your back arches into him when he kisses down the valley between your breasts, a soft moan of his name falling from your lips as he tongues at your flesh. Smirking against your skin, Jungkook lfits his head so he can look at you. Your gaze meets his and it’s like you can feel everything embodying him in that moment. Your hands glide over his broad shoulders before resting on his clothed chest, your fingers beginning to undo every button on his shirt as his lips find yours once more.

Tongues swirl around each other in a heated tango, the taste of him becoming more and more intoxicating as you finally undo the last button, the material coming undone as you slide it down his arms. Break away from his mouth, your gaze falls on his now shirtless torso and you have to bite your lip when you catch sight of his form. Faint shadows of abs adorn his body, the man’s physique a lot more muscular than you had pictured, and you let a smirk form on your lips as you peer back up at him through your eyelashes.

“You tell me I’m beautiful,” you playfully say, poking his cheek. “But have you seen yourself? You’re like a fucking Greek God.”

Your words make Jungkook smirk, the artist swooping back down to kiss you fervently. Lips tangle messily together as he reaches behind you to unclasp your bra, the flimsy material sliding down your arms and being thrown to the floor as Jungkook’s body rocks down into yours, the friction making both of you moan into one another’s mouths. Flushed lips break from yours as he kisses down your body once more, his mouth kissing over the top of your mounds now before he’s experimentally drawing his tongue out from between his lips and running it over your sensitive bud. Your chest instantly pushes into him, your back arching off of the bed as you mewl his name, silently asking for more -- which Jungkook gladly obliges.

As Jungkook’s mouth works over your breasts, your fingers pluck at his suit pants, nimble fingers undoing the slacks and pushing them down his legs, your feet slipping between so you can pushing them to the ground. Your hand glides along the planes of his chest, fingertips gently grazing his skin as they reach the hem of his briefs. Jungkook twitches underneath your touch, his mouth unclasping itself from your breasts as your hand dips past the hem to wrap around his hardening cock.

“Oh shit,” he breathes out, causing you to smirk.

Your palm encloses around his length, fingertips brushing against him as his hips buck into your touch. Jungkook grits his teeth as he raises his head to look at you, his gaze heated and lust driven.

“If you keep doing that I might have to fuck you right now,” he warns, to which you grin.

“Do it,” you challenge. “Make me yours.”

Wasting no time at all, Jungkook’s mouth surges to yours as he pushes himself up so that he’s fully hovering over you. He’s plucking at the material of your panties and sliding them down your legs in record time, his briefs soon following. Sliding a hand down towards your core, he gently glides two digits along your folds, the action drawing a moan and groan from both of you.

“You’re so wet, baby,” he hums against your mouth. “Do you think you’re ready for me?”

You whimper against his mouth, your chest rising and falling with ragged breaths as you gently rake your nails down his back.

“I’ve been ready for you since I’ve dreamt about you,” you murmur back, and Jungkook growls.

Gripping your hips he’s lining himself up with you before his hand sought out to find yours. Just as his fingers slip between the empty spaces of yours, you feel his cock slide between your folds, your body instantly feeling full as you squeeze his hand. Jungkook’s biting down on your bottom lip and tugging, his tongue soon jutting out to soothe the pain as he fills you up. The feeling of your tight walls around him makes him groan, his grip on your hand tightening as you pant heavily against his mouth.

“Jungkook,” you moan. “Move.”

Instantly obliging to your request, his hips start moving at a slow pace, a rhythm building up as his lips find yours. His free hand reaches down to grab your thigh so he can hook it around his waist, you immediately catching onto his message as you wrap the other around him. The feeling of him inside of you is nothing short of perfect, your eyes snapping shut as his pace increases. You can see stars behind your eyelids, the planets seemingly aligning as he rocks into you. The pace isn’t fast, it’s not slow either, but the depth of his thrusts are enough to make you see stars, his hips aligning upwards as his cock brushes against a spot that makes your toes curl and his name escape your lips. The pick up in volume of your shouts makes Jungkook’s ears perk up, the artist instantly making it so that his cock brushes against that spot every time.

Your nails are raking down his back, angry red lines dancing across his skin as you burying your face in the crook of his neck. Your breathing is ragged, heavy pants escaping you ever now and again, and your hips are lifting up and off the bed to meet his thrusts. You clench around him, making Jungkook groan at the feeling, and you cry out when you feel him press the pad of his thumb against your clit, the action making your hips jolt forward as you murmur into his neck.

“Oh, fuck --! Right there!”

Jungkook’s gritting his teeth at your words, his hand squeezing yours tightly as his thrusts finally start to speed up. His thumb is rubbing harshly at your clit now, figure-eight patterns are being drawn against the sensitive bud as you feel the coil in your lower body start to tighten. Digging your nails into his back, you let a loud cry of ‘Jungkook!’ slip past your lips as you throw your head back, your core tightening around him as you feel your release wash over you. Stars are littered behind your closed eyelids, flashes of white and red dots illuminating the darkness as you come. The feeling of your core tightening around his cock makes Jungkook swear under his breath, his own release washing over him him not soon afters yours did, the artist coming with a low growl of your name.

As your body comes down from your high, you slowly flutter your eyes open, your gaze falling on Jungkook above you. His hair is pushed back off of his face as sweat beads along his forehead, the grip he had on your hand softening as he looks down at you. There’s an unknown emotion glinting in his eyes as he lets a dazed smile grace his lips, the artist burying his face in the crook of your neck as he maneuvers his body so that he’s half laying next to you, half laying on top of you as he gazes down at your face. Lifting his hand he brushes your hair out of your face as he gives you a sweet smile.

“You know,” he muses, resting his chin on your chest. “I never thought I’d see the day where I finally get to meet the girl from my dreams.”

You grin, mirroring his actions and sweeping his fringe out of his face.

“Me either,” you admit, your thumb gently stroking his cheek. “But I’m glad I did.”

Jungkook beams, leaning forward and capturing your lips in a soft kiss.

“Me too, beautiful.”

The smell of bacon cooking on the stove fills your nose as you loosely wrap your arms around Jungkook’s neck, your lips softly pressing against his as you kiss him. Humming against your mouth, he grips your hips and lifts you on top of the counter, his hands prying your legs apart so he can stand between them. Lazy, languid kisses are being exchanged as breakfast cooks, Jungkook’s tongue rolling against yours as the two of you melt into one another. You would’ve completely forgot about your surroundings had it not been for the intrusive voice coming from the doorway.

“You know,” a voice muses. “People eat there.”

Breaking away from your mouth, Jungkook grins past you as his gaze settles on a sleepy Taehyung leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest as he eyes the two of you.

“Oh shut up,” the artist scoffs. “You do this with Soohyuk all the damn time.”

Taehyung flushes then, the mention of his girlfriend making the musician bashfully look away as Jungkook laughs. Gripping your hips, he helps you down from the counter before you finally turn towards the boy leaning against the wall. A bright smile forms on your face as you wave your hand at him.

“Tae,” Jungkook cuts in, wrapping his arms around your waist. “This is (Y/N) -- or as you might know, the girl from my dreams.”

Taehyung’s mouth flies open when he catches sight of your face, his eyes widening as he gapes at you. You giggle quietly, pressing back into Jungkook’s arms as Taehyung splutters a response.

“Holy shit,” he says, completely shell-shocked. “It’s really you.”

You beam happily, shrugging your shoulders.

“In the flesh.”

Taehyung gawks for a few more moments, the musician trying to wrap his tired mind around the fact that his best friend had most certainly found the girl he’s been dreaming about since he was nine years old. Shaking his head, he grumbles to himself as he walks over towards the coffee pot.

“Maybe there is such a thing as a soulmate after all...”

His words make both you and Jungkook turn to look at each other, identical smiles on both of your faces as he leans his forehead against yours.

“I’d say there is,” Jungkook murmurs, and you nod, grinning back at him.

“Absolutely."

[koyurim]

it’s okay to not be okay 7-8

ive been holding back on saying this drama is perfect because i didnt want to jinx it, but at the halfway mark, i have no choice BUT to say, IT IS PERFECT.

we hit the halfway mark and both of our leads have cut off their leashes. what’s brilliant is that these moments feels so earned and we can see the hard work that both have put in to get to this place. both have come to a place where they’re willing and learning to step into growth, and they’re supported by one another so well. moon-young has to be the one to cut her hair, but kang-tae is there to help her trim it. kang-tae decided not to apologize for his actions because they were truly what he wanted to do and moon-young is there to take him on a trip afterwards (she’s also been taking care of him so subtly as well). 

the two of their relationship is so well crafted. in these two episodes, we got the most emotional growth but they were in these smaller, less dramatic moments of intimacy and comfort. the stairwell scene was so casual but clearly showed the ways they’re willing to accommodate and open up to one another--kang-tae loosens up around her and she holds back for him. i love the way that their feelings for each other is growing because it feels so natural that they are slowly opening up to each other and leaning on one another despite being in complete denial. everything between them is so raw and real! even their interaction when kang-tae gets jealous is layered with a real fear that she only sees him as an object to desire. 

(i think moon-young is only JUST beginning to consider ‘love.’ desire, attraction, lust? yes. but love? it seems like it just crossed her brain in the beauty and the beast class). kang-tae’s denial of his feelings (and himself) is full blown, but as moon-young encourages him to loosen up and let go, she’s building a special place in his heart. when kang-tae finally lets go, he’s forced to confront what he truly wants and we see that everyone expects him to just hold back. however, moon-young is the first to really see him and care for his wants. she’s been slowly working on loosening his safety pin, and turns out, just by being herself (standing up to a-reum’s abuser) she manages to undo his safety pin. 

obviously, there’s still so much growth ahead now that they’ve decided to free themselves from their past, but i’m so fucking PROUD of them and am looking forward to their continued growth. they look so much freer and relieved, our kang-tae is actually smiling and moon-young finds herself being comforted by his warmth. i also think that during class, moon-young might have had a moment where she realized how she coerced kang-tae into living with her was manipulative. i really hope the show decides to dive in and have her apologize for this. 

sang-tae and moon-young fighting over mang-tae (kang-tae) is so silly and cute and i’d enjoy it more if i wasnt eminently worried about the impending conflict that kang-tae will face in being forced to ‘choose’ between sang-tae (repression) or moon-young (freedom). i have a lot of confidence that the show writers will handle this well and develop the relationships to a point where kang-tae doesnt have to hold back and can have healthy relationships with both his brother and moon-young. i like how this love triangle is shaped by sang-tae’s fear of losing his brother. while kang-tae has spent his whole life infantilizing sang-tae, sang-tae does feel a sense of ownership to kang-tae. the two have stated that they each belong to themselves, but actually living out those assertions in real life is much different; the two are very co-dependent and probably have never not lived in the same room as each other. change is hard and sang-tae’s probably unsettled by this change in dynamic. nonetheless, i’m looking forward to having my heart ripped out by these brothers. 

when it comes to family, i absolutely was emotionally crushed by the themes of motherhood that came with episode 7 “the cheerful dog.” in the second episode, moon-young states that the painful memories linger longer and this helf true when kang-tae realizes he’s forgotten those happier moments of love with his mother (kim soo hyun’s eyelids just twitch and i am a MESS). the way the show revealed these moments didn’t erase the hurt that kang-tae experienced or justify his mom’s actions, but provided another layer of our understanding of mothering. kang-tae has a hard time connecting with folks outside his brother and we see that his mother was in the same position. she still hurt him, but she was also trying her best. there are so many sides to parenting. i thought jae-su and ju-ri’s mom brought different viewpoints that were equally valid when they were comforting kang-tae. 

the visual storytelling to convey all these points continues to be done in the most elegant and moving way. moon-young holds the umbrella over kang-tae. she cuts her hair in front of distorted mirror (she’s supposedly a reflection of her mother). kang-tae’s shirt is literally SO worn because he doesn’t take care of himself. my heart!!!!!! cant take it!!!!!! but i love it!!!!!

our side characters are so fun! while on paper they seem pretty normal and mundane, but they’re interesting and fascinating in their own right. ju-ri’s a great second lead because despite being so normal; she is very self-aware and now that she’s been rejected, she hasn’t been going out of her way to impose on kang-tae. i find her outburst while drunk hilarious and telling that there’s something more under the surface. i enjoy that sang-in is courting her now but dont necessarily know that i needed him to full on move in with her for this to happen. we also got a little more of jae-su’s history! i was glad that they allowed jae-su to be mad at kang-tae because kang-tae’s actions do impact those around him outside of his brother. jae-su’s also so insightful in noting that kang-tae needs a friend (and so does sang-tae!!!). 

theories: moon-young’s mom seems to haunt her dad and moon-young. i think for separate reasons though? it feels like both of them had a hand in her death and disappearance (moon-young probably more on the part of her inaction/choosing not to save her mom). i believe that moon-young’s mom and kang-tae’s mom’s death are connected by the butterflies. moon-young destroys butterflies for the same reason that sang-tae is afraid of them, but what is that reason exactly? 

[saotome-michi]

Top 10 Manhwa of 2016-17

I used to rarely read manhwa, maybe just one or two a year, but then I discovered Lezhin and Spottoon - online platforms that host Korean webcomics with English translations available. The first few chapters are usually free but after that you have to pay to read, which actually appeals to me because I like being able to support writers and artists. And even if you find the prices unaffordable, reading the free chapters still helps because you’re increasing the view count and their popularity. The only complaint I have is that the quality of the translations can differ greatly between series, especially on Spottoon. Sometimes it’s pretty good and sometimes it’s really bad. 

Anyway, I’ve read so many manhwa this past year that I thought it’d be nice to make a manhwa rec list! Except for a few exceptions, I tried to only recommend series that have a good number of chapters out or that are already completed. These are my personal top 10. Enjoy!

10. Reversi (양극의 소년) by Eun Song

In the year 2016, a never before seen virus decimates 20% of the world population. Moreover, survivors of this virus either transform into man-eating creatures called “worms” or into super-humans with tremendous physical abilities called “heteros”. Over the years, heteros start the ISO, an agency that protects people from worms. Haru, our protagonist, is a young hetero who wants to join the ISO, but it may not be that easy or straightforward…

Once in a while I find a scifi-action comic that manages to capture my interest, despite me being rather tired of the genre as a whole. This manhwa is on this list more for its potential than anything else- there are only 37 chapters out and the story’s still in its beginning stages, but I think there’s a lot of good material that, in the right hands, can make for a really interesting and entertaining story.

Despite the impression the synopsis may give you, the story starts out in a peaceful privileged high school setting and you don’t get to the nerve-wracking parts until around chapter 25. But the beginning achieves its purpose. It sets the scene with its conflicts: the segregation of those infected with the virus and those uninfected, the mixed treatment of heteros, and the still-existing class privilege. It also sets up the main characters; impulsive but sincere Haru and his best friend, level-headed and determined Leo; the other heteros in their school year; and members of the ISO. We don’t know much about them, but again they’re intriguing and the rest can come later. It’ll probably take another 30 chapters or so before we can see whether this manhwa fulfills its potential or not, but take this as a heads up - this one just might be a winner. At the very least, the beginning’s pretty engaging. And with clean art that’s easy on the eyes, it’s definitely no chore to scroll through.

Warning: Blood, death, murder, violence, body horror 

Available on: Lezhin (first 24 chapters are free). Not on scanlation sites yet. 

9. The House Cat (상상고양이) by Kim Kyoung 

(Also known as: The Imaginary Cat, Cat’s Imagination) 

Cat lovers rejoice! Here’s another comic for you to read for your daily dose of cat shenanigans. “The House Cat” looks at Webcomic Artist Jong Hyun and his cat Bok-Gil (Jill in the english translation) - or as Jill would tell you, Cat Jil and her human who she allows to live with her. Like so, the comic presents their different viewpoints of their life together, with Hyun’s viewpoint on the left in red and Jill’s viewpoint on the right in green. The intersection between their viewpoints is cleverly done and will often leave you smiling one way or another. Cat owners will probably find many of their interactions familiar. On the other hand if you’re like me, you’ll start realizing that you are basically Jill and should’ve been born as a house cat instead of as a human. All in all, “The House Cat” is a pleasure to read and certainly not a bad way to pass the time. 

Warning: Alcohol mention, brief depiction of pet abuse and neglect 

Available on : Spottoon (first 4 chapters free). Was adapted into a kdrama called “The Imaginary Cat” 

8. Peak (피크) by Hong Sung-Soo and Lim Gang-Hyuk 

If “mountain rescue manhwa” stirs any interest in you, this may be the manhwa for you. “Peak” centers around Ryu Yeon-Seong, who’s been stationed on Mt. Bukhan to be a Rescue Ranger for his military service, along with four other men. The story follows his experiences as he learns what being a rescue ranger entails.

I initially didn’t have high expectations for this manhwa, but the realistic and suspenseful storytelling ended up impressing me. I always like it when manhwa go into the specifics of the particular subject they’re covering and “Peak” does that extensively - from what’s covered in training exercises to the challenges of navigating throughout the mountain in subpar weather to how to conduct oneself when administering first aid to fatal injuries. And except for a few brief respites, the pace is remarkably fast from start to finish, emulating the break-neck speed the rangers have to move to save lives. It would not be an exaggeration to say that I’m constantly sitting at the edge of my seat when reading this manhwa. The rescue missions themselves are no joke; from an accident in the middle of the pouring rain to a helicopter crash, this manhwa is constantly upping the stakes. 

Personally, the art isn’t my favorite but it excels in two areas: conveying the physical exertion of being a ranger and the harshness of the mountain landscape. And when the story is all about survival, that’s really all that matters. 

Warnings: Blood, fatal injuries, death, murder 

Available on: Spottoon (First 30 chapters are free). 92 Chapters can be found on mangago. 

7. The Sock Monster (양말도깨비) by Manmulsang

(Also known as: Socks Goblin)  

Is it too much if I said “The Sock Monster” would rock your socks off? Ehehe :P

But actually, this is possibly the cutest manhwa I’ve ever read. From the art, which resembles something you’d find in a children’s storybook with its crayon lines and oil pastel backgrounds, to the story itself, a young girl making her way in a wintery town, “The Sock Monster” radiates a quirky fairytale sort of charm. It’s slow to start but when it finds its rhythm, it strolls off, as our plucky protagonist, Park Sujin, learns the ropes at BigFoot Bank, finds the Sock Monster living in her room, and befriends Mr. Lara, her cat-man neighbor whose dream is to explore the deep ocean. Despite its lighthearted tone, the manhwa ends up covering some surprisingly heavy topics from the tension between Big Foots and Humans to animal experimentation (in a world where animals are more like humans). But it does so in a tender sort of way, never losing heart or the hint of wisdom that comes with classical storytelling. 

What the manhwa excels at especially is taking advantage of its fantasy world to sculpt all sorts of interesting plotlines for the characters. There is no limit to the creativity displayed. If children’s books and fairytales appeal to you, then you’ll probably appreciate the charm of “The Sock Monster”. Who knows, it might just become your favorite bedtime read. And you’ll probably end up cooing over how cute the sock monsters are. 

Warning: Child neglect and abuse, animal cruelty, death 

Available on: Spottoon (first 19 chapters are free) 

6. Myojin Tales (묘진전) by Jelly Bean 

A smallpox goddess steals an eye from a celestial god to help her sightless baby. A young boy wonders why his father doesn’t love him. A girl who’s lived a miserable life curses her capturer with her last breath. The celestial god, the father, the capturer - all of these titles refer to the same being: Myojin, a god who has been sentenced to forever live among humans as punishment for his crimes, forbidden to ever return to his former post as a zodiac deity. This is a compilation of the stories surrounding him and the people whose lives he’s touched. 

This manhwa caught my attention with its art alone. Each panel is meticulously rendered in a style resembling traditional ink paintings, fitting for a story drawn from Korean mythology. Although the style is usually semi-realistic, like the panel above, when it comes to frightening and visceral scenes it leans towards abstraction. There is one particular chapter near the beginning that I could not read with the lights turned off. However, the story itself is also fascinating and from beginning to end, it reads like a folktale told from centuries ago. 

Let’s get this out of the way - Myojin is not a likable person in any aspect really. But he, like everyone else, is both victim and perpetrator of unfair systems, and has the capability for both good and evil. Therein itself lies the core of this manhwa and “Myojin Tales” is ultimately a story of recognition and redemption, where there is no moral absolutes, but only the choices one makes in certain circumstances. If you’re a fan of mangas like Mushishi, this could be your next favorite. 

Warning: child neglect, abuse, body horror, blood, murder, death 

Available on: Spottoon. Normally only the first 10 chapters are free, but this week (March 18, 2017) the first 17 are all free! 

5. Hwaja (화자) by Hong Jac-Ga 

At 9 years old, Ryu explores “the Haunted House” in his neighborhood and meets Hwaja, a girl who looks a few years older than him. Hwaja never leaves the haunted house, except to sit on the rooftop, and spends most of her time drawing. Visitors, she says, have to bring her something, like food. Eventually, Ryu introduces his best friend Jay to Hwaja. She doesn’t seem like a ghost, but there is something is strange about her and the house… 

At 19 years old, Ryu, who moved away and hasn’t been in the neighborhood for years, is struck with the news of Jay’s death. His last text message from him reads, “Don’t ever come back.” But Ryu does come back and sees Hwaja again… 

As you can infer from the synopsis, there’s a 10 year time skip in the manhwa. Personally I didn’t find myself that interested in “Hwaja” until after the time skip (in Ch. 8), where the art style changes and things get a lot more intriguing. The art goes from crisp line-art colored in bright blues and greens to blocks of color in murky purples, browns, and blues, conveying the suspicion and suspense as Jay learns more and more about the truth behind Hwaja’s existence. The story ended up going places that I didn’t expect it to go and the ending was surprisingly heartfelt and touching. If you like ghost stories or just stories about the interaction between the supernatural and humans, give “Hwaja” a go. 

Warning: Violence, child abuse, sexual abuse, rape, murder, kidnapping, death 

Available on: Tapastic (Only the prologue is free). It can be found complete on scanlation sites on mangago. But if you end up liking it, support the author! 

4. Hongdo (홍도) by snowy owl 

In a world of shamans, gods, ghosts and other mystical creatures, the illegitimate son of a prominent general, Hong-do Lee grows up to be a powerful exorcist. When he decides to abandon his job, he becomes the target of bounty hunters and stumbles upon a plot that threatens his life and the fate of the world.

So begins Hongdo, a swashbuckling fantasy adventure that has gorgeous art and gives me Fullmetal Alchemist vibes if only because Hong-do is incredibly similar to Edward Elric, minus the insecurities about his height. That’s not to say that Hong-do is an Edward copy; he’s clearly his own unique character, but the style of humor is similar and the situations he gets into resembles the beginning of FMA, where Ed and Alphonse traveled around Amestris looking for strange happenings possibly caused by a Philosopher’s Stone- only in Hong-do’s case, he’s looking for a mysterious man named Crow. What for? Well, you have to read it to find out. 

But although elements of the story are reminiscent of FMA, the exorcist practices and the setting that make up the backbone of the story is clearly based on Ancient Korean and Chinese mythology and history. Architecture, clothing, the gods and spirits, all are richly and beautifully illustrated. I have at least a dozen screenshots saved in my phone and my current iphone lock screen is a panel from Hongdo. The worldbuilding is fascinating to say the least and the story just gets more and more interesting as you go along. In short, don’t miss this gem of a manhwa. 

Warning: Violence, murder, some body horror-ish stuff 

Available on: Spottoon (first 9 chapters are free). Chapter 1-34 are on mangapark. 

3. Dark Heaven (다크 헤븐) by JUNS 

In the US, same-sex marriage has been legalized but racist and homophobic hate crimes still regularly occur. Connor is Korean-American, and together with his friend and lover Simon, they have a band called “Dark Heaven”. But things can’t stay this good forever. Fast-forward to the future and the band has split up. Simon is pursuing a solo career and Connor’s working as a writer in a news agency. What went wrong and can they be together again? 

This manhwa pushes all of my buttons, so it’s no surprise that it’s on this list even though I’m only 15 chapters in. I mean, come on, a Korean-American protagonist? Check. Angsty Band Premise? Check. True love between two boys who care about each other so much, they find life lonely without having the other by their side? Check. And to top all of that, really good art? Check. Check. Check.

I think what’s so refreshing about this manhwa is that it looks at racism and homophobia and actually does a good job going about it. When Connor finds himself in love with Simon, he not only faces opposition from the outside, but also from the inside. Internalized racism and homophobia can be a bitch and the author does a good job depicting that with Connor’s struggles. And the love that Connor and Simon have for each other is just so touching, you can only fervently hope that they find their way back to each other again.  

Warning: Homophobia, racism, racist and homophobic slurs, hate crimes, prostitution, child abuse, violence 

Available on: Lezhin (first chapter is free). Scanlation sites only have up to chapter 5-6 I think. 

2. Annarasumanara (안나라수마나라) by Ha Il-Kwon

Yoon Ah-ee struggles to keep her and her little sister fed, clothed, and sheltered, but that’s easier said than done, especially with her father’s debts weighing down on her shoulders. Her only hope is to keep her grades up so that she can go to a good college and then get a good job and become a good adult. But when she meets a mysterious magician in the abandoned amusement park, she’s reminded of her childhood dream to learn magic… 

This has been on my “to read” list for years, but I’ve finally read it and I can only hit myself on the head for not reading it sooner. Annarasumanara is a story for those who have had that moment when, verging at the brink of adulthood, you’ve wondered “what is happiness”? Will going on this road that everyone has predetermined for me, “study hard, go to a good college, get a good job,” make me happy? 

What happens if that’s not what I want? 

The art here is unique to say the least. The author goes for a mixed media approach of combining drawings with photographs, which is not uncommon in Korean webcomics. What is uncommon is for it to be done well, creating stark, unforgettable imagery that, at times, blurs the lines between reality and construed reality. Which is exactly what this manhwa needs; after all it’s a story about finding real magic in what seems like a miserable reality. 

Warning: Suicide Attempt, Violence, Sexual Harassment, Blood

Available on: Line Webtoon (All chapters are free!)

 1. Vengeance (벤전스) by Aji

Have you ever really wanted a noir mystery about a female police detective trying to solve the case of her girlfriend’s murder? I did, I just didn’t know that I did until I started reading this and then I thanked the gods above for delivering my unconscious wishes.  

Hyun Seol-ah is an experienced police officer who’s known for her cool head and rational approach in dangerous situations - but all that cool headedness goes flying out the window when she arrives at a murder scene and realizes that the victim is her girlfriend, Hwan Hara. From then on, she is focused on only one thing: finding the monster who killed her and then exacting revenge.

I know what you’re thinking… another sad lesbian story? Yes, it’s sad, but the relationship between Seol-ah and Hara is depicted so profoundly, you can feel how much Seol-ah loved Hara and how much Hara loved her in return. As Seol-ah chases down the murderer, we see flashback after flashback of their relationships, from the fights to the cuddles to the declarations of love. What makes this even more heartbreaking is that their relationship was a secret, and so Seol-ah must solve Hara’s murder while hiding that they were lovers.

But also, the art is fantastic. I could go on and on about it, but I think the panel above speaks for itself. Solid blocks of color used to great dramatic effect that mimics the atmosphere of noir films. Seriously, do not let this pass you by.

Warning: Murder, blood, body horror, homophobia

Available at: Lezhin (first chapter is free). You can also read the whole thing on mangago and then buy some chapters later on Lezhin to support the author.